Toward Missional Church... How challenging is your discipleship? Do you declare your faith in the public square?

This past Wednesday night I had a unique opportunity to participate in a meeting with 15 representatives of faith communities of our city discussing the new policy of Accommodation for faith based practices at the Thames Valley District School Board. A female Jewish orthodox rabbi, a Muslim imam from the Oxford mosque, First Nation leaders, Baptist, Pentecostal – all spoke about their concerns for the public educational system.

I had a chance to speak on matters of belief in creation not being discriminated against by evolutionary teaching, about students right to ask for a substitute literature readings if assigned books include witchcraft, or other materials contradicting to Christian value system. An interesting discussion was facilitated toward the end of the meeting on the definition of faith – people from different religious groups do not like to hear words “faith” or “creed” used as a binding legalistic system of rules to be followed as obligations. Even the word “religion” is not welcomed. But all agree that faith is a “way of life,” and “spiritual relationships.” The dialogue will continue, until the new policy is in place, due this summer.

And as I reflected and shared my experience with some I heard different comments. From “will never happen” to “Great! About time.” Is this another gambit by the Provincial Board of education before the election to get faith communities distracted from demanding funding for church schools in the province where only Roman Catholic education is sponsored, along with the Anglican system which has became “public”? Should we seriously look forward to secular venues becoming more open for Christian witness? Or should we continue developing an alternative system for educating our children in order to preserve our values, and instruct the next generation?

This week we also met with the task force of volunteers from all three Adventist congregations in London considering the opportunity of purchasing the 77 Tecumseh West property of 2.2 acres with 25,000 sq.ft. building. We prayed, talked and listened. One thing emerging positively - the vision for a Multipurpose Community centre for outreach, a place through which we would impact community. The school is only one of “branches” for the evangelistic work of serving community needs. As Day-Care for children was mentioned, so was the idea for a day-care for seniors. A Kindergarten, Christian bookstore with a unique selection of books, music, and other media, health-education centre, a community integration centre for new immigrants....the meeting carried beyond the allotted time as people were sharing their dreams for a Missional Church.

You may not be familiar with this term – it is an emerging term for churches that exist for Mission, that are not self-serving and go out of their comfort zones to transform the community with Christ.

2011 is the year of Revival for Mission. This means much more than learning about mission work at our monthly seminars. It is becoming missional. It is about making our faith seen, felt, present, reachable, incarnate in the community. The world is changing, and God is present where change is. Are we, the church, being present too? I challenge you to pray specifically for one thing for the remainder of this year – for God to give you a personal involvement in mission.